Midnight-Freight Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 (edited) This will be my second layout and hopefully an improvement over the first. I have learned a lot throughout the process of building the original Chesterton sidings and tmd but had reached a point where I felt I couldn't take it any further without major work so the decision was taken to start again with fresh ideas and enthusiasm. I will be looking to put my new knowledge and skills to the test and hopefully create something I can be proud of. I'm fairly settled on the track plan which will contain one long siding for wagons to be loaded/unloaded and stored and two further shorter sidings as well as a small tmd area. Rolling stock will mostly be mha and mfa wagons but I would also like to build up a small collection of ioa wagons for variety. Traction will be a few class 66's from different foc's although there is no reason other classes of loco can't make an appearance when funds allow. Edited July 18, 2019 by Midnight-Freight 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bensanchez43310 Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Keen to see where this leads ben Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted September 25, 2018 Author Share Posted September 25, 2018 Keen to see where this leads ben Thanks, I hope you're not the impatient type... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted September 26, 2018 Author Share Posted September 26, 2018 (edited) Been playing around and come up with another plan which I really like. It has all the elements I'm after although I do worry I've fallen into the trap of trying to cram as much track into the space available again. If it works out as per the plan it would give me the space I want for the tmd, ballast loading area as well as some space for offices etc. I had originally put a 3 way point for the tmd and siding but they are quite pricey and assuming I am able to re-use my current track I won't need to purchase too much new track. As always opinions are greatly received. Edited September 26, 2018 by Midnight-Freight Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bensanchez43310 Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 Been playing around and come up with another plan which I really like. It has all the elements I'm after although I do worry I've fallen into the trap of trying to cram as much track into the space available again. If it works out as per the plan it would give me the space I want for the tmd, ballast loading area as well as some space for offices etc. I had originally put a 3 way point for the tmd and siding but they are quite pricey and assuming I am able to re-use my current track I won't need to purchase too much new track. As always opinions are greatly received. Both looks good, just depends what layout gives you more play value and interaction with the layout itself, nice to see the progress, looks great. Ben Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted September 27, 2018 Author Share Posted September 27, 2018 Smoothed things out a little bit and looks better to me. Still slightly concerned at how well it will fit the area in reality but should be ok. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 Looks like fairly classic loop, with fingers of sidings off both sides. Can’t see how you’d get much more variety in the space Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 Something doesn’t look quite right with the geometry of the bottom right hand set of points may be better handed with section of curve used to get correct alignment Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMay Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 Where's the intended viewing position(s)? Where's the intended operating position? How many fiddle yards do you propose, (just one on the left?), howso designed? What's the function of the buildings? How do you intend to cover the exit off-scene? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted September 30, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 30, 2018 My thoughts. One too many sidings on the MPD. "Less is more". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted October 1, 2018 Author Share Posted October 1, 2018 Something doesn’t look quite right with the geometry of the bottom right hand set of points may be better handed with section of curve used to get correct alignment Yes I agree. I think it's just my limited experience with Anyrail and that it was put together quite quickly. I'm sure it could be smoothed out. When I get to the point of laying track I'll check it looks/works more smoothly before fixing anything permanently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted October 1, 2018 Author Share Posted October 1, 2018 Where's the intended viewing position(s)? Where's the intended operating position? How many fiddle yards do you propose, (just one on the left?), howso designed? What's the function of the buildings? How do you intend to cover the exit off-scene? All good questions. As much as I would like to think the layout may be good enough to exhibit one day realistically it will be built in my spare(ish) bedroom in the available space so it will be end to end with no fiddle yards. I know I could reduce the scenic area and have a fiddle yard one end, or both but it will be built with the possibility of adding them should I find myself with more space in the future. The other option would be to add a loop. The focus will be on shunting wagons around in the sidings and light engine moves around the tmd. The viewing and operating position will be from the bottom with a back scene at the top. As for the off-scene on either side I am not 100% sure, possibly an angled motorway style bridge to the right and just general scenery to the left. Buildings to the right will be general offices and hopefully a small car-park, sidings maybe adjusted to allow more space if required. The space at the top still needs planning but was thinking maybe to include a small construction site with a steel frame building under construction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted October 1, 2018 Author Share Posted October 1, 2018 My thoughts. One too many sidings on the MPD. "Less is more". Yep, that's what I thought when I looked again and one siding has been removed. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted October 1, 2018 Author Share Posted October 1, 2018 Another updated plan... I've removed one of the tmd sidings as suggested. I've also swapped the point at the bottom right for a Y point which I think gives a better flow to the curve. The orange square is rough position of a signal box and the red lines possible routing for the concrete trunking leading to each set of points. I've not yet decided whether to take on the task and additional cost of using point motors. One thing I'm really not very clued up on is signalling. It's something I would like to include albeit on a basic level and obviously this will affect positioning of cable trunking and relay boxes so needs to be considered at an early stage. If anyone has any suggestions of how many, what type and positioning of these it would be most helpful. Failing that I will make a separate post in the signalling section. I'm really enjoying the planning phase of the new layout, I just hope I enjoy building it as much... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted October 8, 2018 Author Share Posted October 8, 2018 I've pretty much finished dismantling the old layout and managed to salvage all the sets of points as well as a few straight sections of track so won't need to purchase too much new stuff. I've also bought a large sheet of 9mm ply and some long sections of timber so I can make a start on building the three sections of the layout. Hopefully my plan will work for using a jigsaw to get perfectly straight cuts... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share Posted October 13, 2018 Well I've gone from having one large sheet of ply to lots of smaller pieces. My plan of clamping two lengths of wood either side of the cut to act as guides for the jigsaw somehow failed and within a few inches the jigsaw blade had started to veer off course. I immediately aborted and broke out the trusty handsaw. This was far more effort and I have a suspiciously muscular right arm but I managed to keep on the straight and narrow and initial thoughts are that everything matches up as it should. Hopefully start screwing bits together tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted October 22, 2018 Author Share Posted October 22, 2018 I'm looking to purchase at least some of the track soon. I have salvaged all of the points and a few straight pieces from the previous layout but not knowing any better back then bought Peco code 100 wooden sleeper track. I don't want the expense of buying all new track so was thinking of using code 75 concrete sleeper track for the line running through and the run around loop and then transitioning to the code 100 for the sidings and tmd area. Some parts of both will be concrete hard standing so won't matter. The mix of wooden and concrete sleeper track isn't too concerning as I know it's quite common, especially on point work I'm just not so sure about the change from code 75 to code 100. There will only be two points of change and one of these may end up on a board join so hopefully with careful ballasting it should look ok? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 Finally some visible progress. Not terribly exciting but at least proof that something is actually happening. I've taken my time building the baseboards so that everything lines up properly to avoid problems further down the line and I'm pleased to find it's about 95% spot on. There's a slight difference in height between two of the boards but nothing a bit of plasticard won't fix. So the layout will be on three boards joined together using clamps on either side and 8mm precision dowels to ensure alignment. The boards measure 2 x 900x400mm and 1 x 1200x400mm. The back scene boards which I've yet to attach will be 200mm in height. As can be seen in the two other pics I've started playing around with pieces of track to get an idea of how everything fits in and I'm reasonably satisfied so far. Just need to order some track now... 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted November 4, 2018 Author Share Posted November 4, 2018 I've started loosely laying the pointwork as a starting point. Once that's in place all the tracks that lead off will be pretty straight forward to lay. I've also started playing around with sleeper spacing on a couple of lengths. Whilst this will be an incredibly fiddly and mind numbing job I do think it greatly improves the look of the track. I just hope the combination of wooden sleeper points with original spacing and wooden and concrete sleeper track with increased spacing doesn't look odd. One other thing I can't decide on is whether to use point motors. They aren't really necessary on a layout like mine but would be a nice feature and with the modified wiring would mean I wasn't relying on switch blade contact for electrical conductivity. Much to ponder... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted November 13, 2018 Author Share Posted November 13, 2018 Some more track turned up today so I was able to lay it out and get a bit more of a feel for how it will all go together. I'm very pleased and don't think it looks too cramped at all. I think I'm going to lay the track on cork to give a shoulder to the ballast when complete so need to work out how much I will need and get some more track ordered, then I can get everything in place and lash up my controller and see how it all runs. Exciting times... 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrighty Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 Following with interest looking forward to seeing this develop Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 Just a quick update with a couple of dodgy phone pics. Excuse the mess! Track is all temporary laid on a bed of 1.6mm cork and held down with drawing pins. Next step is to get some temporary power to it and see if everything works with hopefully no derailments. Once I'm happy all is ok I will glue the cork down and then start fixing the track. This is where the fun starts and I expect to lose my sanity as I start the sleeper spacing exercise. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 *** Status update (with a not very exciting pic) *** Most of the track is now laid and glued down and looking good with the increased sleeper spacing. The only track which hasn't been laid yet is the tmd area as I plan to fit Peco inspection pits and I haven't got as far as buying those yet, or the lights I plan to use in them. As the pic shows I have started the wiring process on board 3 with all droppers soldered to the bus wire apart from the only point on that board which needs the Autofrog wiring in, which again I haven't yet bought. So steady progress is being made but I strongly suspect a check of my bank balance will confirm what I already know in that two weeks before xmas isn't the time to be buying stuff for the layout... Hopefully it won't be long before I can start running trains though... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted December 23, 2018 Author Share Posted December 23, 2018 With a lack of materials to do much else I've made a start on the flyover that will hide the end of the third board. It's loosely based on one near me where the A14 crosses a local road. Made using some leftover 9mm ply the basic shape is looking ok. It needs a bit of neatening up and then I need to start experimenting with how to get a similar concrete finish to the one it's based on No pics but at the other end I have made a start on cutting the holes for the inspection pits in the maintenance shed. I need to decide on the lighting arrangements here before I can go much further. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-Freight Posted December 23, 2018 Author Share Posted December 23, 2018 I've also been spending a lot of time thinking about ballast and track weathering. I know how I want it to look but whether I can transfer that on to the layout remains to be seen... After trying a few options the closest I've found so far is Woodland Scenics mixed brown in 00 gauge. Normally it's considered to be over scale but I think the widened sleeper spacing makes it look ok. Once it's glued down I'll experiment further with track painting and weathering the ballast as well as trying to achieve a more realistic weathered appearance to the concrete sleepers. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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